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SPORTS MINISTRY, EFA MOURN ‘KOKI’

29/08/2020 07:37:00 BY THEMBA ZWANE

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MBABANE – The sad demise of reputable local coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati has shocked all Eswatini football stakeholders.

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs as well as the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) have joined the bandwagon in mourning the death of the coach.

Minister Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga said the coach had left an unforgettable legacy in the entire sporting fraternity in Eswatini. “The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs has learnt with great sadness the passing of legendary sportsman Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati. First as a referee and later as a title winning coach in football,” he said through a statement.

The communiqué continues to state that Vilakati’s winning mentality and contagious charisma will live long in the memory of all who witnessed his immense and historic contribution to local football.

“The ministry joins the rest of the nation in sending sincere condolences to Mr Vilakati’s family, friends and former colleagues as well as the entire sporting fraternity. We pray that God comforts all who have been devastated by this tragic loss. We are comforted by the knowledge that Mr Vilakati’s contribution to local sport will be felt for generations.”

Meanwhile, Marketing and Communications Officer at the EFA Muzi Radebe said they would like to express a note of heartfelt and profound condolences as well as a symbol of accord to Vilakati’s family and relatives.

Employed

This includes Eswatini Football Coaches Association (EFCA), Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) where he was employed and all the football clubs where he discharged his coaching and general football responsibilities.

“The EFA is still in disbelief over this shocking loss of ‘Koki’, an experienced, hardworking, passionate coach and football servant with a great repute, having previously coached in various national teams as head coach, at U-17, U-20, U-23 and as an assistant coach to Mr Shakes Mashaba, at Sihlangu.

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“He has presided as head coach and even as coach/manager to various football clubs at the premier league and the National First Division in a coaching career that also took him to the African continent, in the CAF Interclubs competitions most notably, with Mbabane Swallows Football Club in the last few years, when they shone brightly internationally,”reads the EFA statement.

Radebe said Vilakati was still expected to prolong his coaching career and significantly contribute to the development of players and the game of football.

“At such moment of great emotional distress, our only hope and belief is in the Lord, God Almighty to accord solace and reassurance to the Vilakati family and all affected establishments.”

On another note, the EFA also expressed condolences on the passing away of Jameson Fakudze, who diligently discharged his duties as a referee and lately and for a long period, served as a Match Commissioner at the Premier League and National First Division.